Hotel quarantine experience when returning to Australia

[Oscarq]

I was interested to hear of your experience. The hotel food/presentation looks a bit ordinary. As I read the post I was about to ask when the flight was taken, but I got to that part. It seems like a QF repatriation flight?

We spoke with QF early April, lovely experienced agent who was extremely helpful, explained to us in detail NO movies, NO alcohol, basic meals, We boarded flight with eyes open, the movies did run for taxi and climb out then turned off. The repatriation flight was the last at the time in a series of five Friday evenings. Advised unsure when further repat flights would operate. We departed from the US one day earlier than planned, timing was perfect. No choice in seating by sales agent. I was able to change seats online from Y to PE. This flight disappeared some two weeks before departure, a bit of a worry, realised on boarding fully loaded. We are now in credit for a one way "J" class with QF.

There would be someone in the world grateful for the food. They were catering contractors and not the hotel catering staff. Most evident how the same food was better presented by the differing shifts. Each menu ran for three days, this allowed you the option of the full menu and not repeat a meal. I repeated meals.

 

[hm520]

I can understand minimal contact from cabin crew, minimal service, no alcohol etc. But why no movies? To avoid contact with handing out headphones? IMO having IFE would help keep people quiet if anything.

 

[dajop]

I can understand minimal contact from cabin crew, minimal service, no alcohol etc. But why no movies?

IFE costs money, therefore eliminating IFE saves all the content licensing fees. Very simple.

 

[debgow]

I am 7 days in being quarantined in The Pacific Hotel Cairns. Flew in from PNG as a medivac flight (Not Covid related and I am now ok). Had ambulance meet charter aircraft along with Qld Police, Federal Police, Qld Health, and Customs/immigration who came onto aircraft. Was handled extremely well. Husband escorted through the airport put on a minibus by himself, police followed in another car. (only pax on flight were myself & husband and Dr who went immediately back to PNG on the same plane) Same procedure for me when I was released from hospital. Police and military staff at hotel in lobby, very professional, respectful and wanted to help. Give you paperwork with rules and hotel procedures etc and escort you to room. There were 2 military on each floor near elevators. Military or Police are the ones to deliver items that you have arranged from the outside world. They knock, we yell Thankyou and wait 5 seconds before opening doors. Meals are delivered by staff same procedure. Breakfast is cereal, milk, popper juice, fruit, Tim Tam and other tiny fruit biscuit. This is delivered with dinner, such as soup every night, bread roll, spaghetti and meatballs/Mongolian beef/seafood mornay/chicken “something” dessert has been fruit salad or cake. Lunch is some type of salad, meat and salad sandwich, fruit, juice, sweet biscuits & savoury snacks. There is no choice of food but can cater for vegetarians or allergies etc. All in all food is plentiful and of good quality. Fresh linen left at door every 3 days. Can always ring for extra sugar, tea, water etc... my husband gets a proper coffee delivered every morning charged to credit card. We have a balcony, internet is good, room is large ( we have an extra single bed in here) still room for small dining table and chairs. Large work desk area which is good as hubby still working 13 hours days, off 3 computer screens. Even room for his stationary bike a friend passed on after his quarantine finished a couple of days after we arrived. You can send a bag of washing twice a week. Qld Health came on day one to do Covid test and will return on day 10. Very happy with hotel.

 

[Daver6]

From a slightly different perspective. MrsDaver6 and I were booked in to the Novotel Langley on Saturday night for a staycation and to make use of my Accor Plus free night which was going to expire end of August.

On Friday afternoon, about 3pm (less than 24 prior to check-in) the hotel called to cancel our reservation. The hotel was being taken over by the state government as a quarantine hotel. Apparently the hotel was informed the day prior. They said they could move us to the Sebel in East Perth, but that wasn't convenient. We specifically wanted the CBD so we could walk to our dinner reservation and have some drinks. They refused to rebook at at a similar nearby hotel.

 

[DC3]

.... the hotel called to cancel our reservation. The hotel was being taken over by the state government as a quarantine hotel ....

They are playing with words. The Govt doesn’t take over hotels. The hotel volunteers to become a ‘COVID hotel‘, and then they may be accepted/rejected.

Edit: So much for their service recovery. And you’ve lost the ACCOR free night?

 

[Oscarq]

I am 7 days in being quarantined in The Pacific Hotel Cairns. Flew in from PNG as a medivac flight (Not Covid related and I am now ok). Had ambulance meet charter aircraft along with Qld Police, Federal Police, Qld Health, and Customs/immigration who came onto aircraft. Was handled extremely well. Husband escorted through the airport put on a minibus by himself, police followed in another car. (only pax on flight were myself & husband and Dr who went immediately back to PNG on the same plane) Same procedure for me when I was released from hospital. Police and military staff at hotel in lobby, very professional, respectful and wanted to help. Give you paperwork with rules and hotel procedures etc and escort you to room. There were 2 military on each floor near elevators. Military or Police are the ones to deliver items that you have arranged from the outside world. They knock, we yell Thankyou and wait 5 seconds before opening doors. Meals are delivered by staff same procedure. Breakfast is cereal, milk, popper juice, fruit, Tim Tam and other tiny fruit biscuit. This is delivered with dinner, such as soup every night, bread roll, spaghetti and meatballs/Mongolian beef/seafood mornay/chicken “something” dessert has been fruit salad or cake. Lunch is some type of salad, meat and salad sandwich, fruit, juice, sweet biscuits & savoury snacks. There is no choice of food but can cater for vegetarians or allergies etc. All in all food is plentiful and of good quality. Fresh linen left at door every 3 days. Can always ring for extra sugar, tea, water etc... my husband gets a proper coffee delivered every morning charged to credit card. We have a balcony, internet is good, room is large ( we have an extra single bed in here) still room for small dining table and chairs. Large work desk area which is good as hubby still working 13 hours days, off 3 computer screens. Even room for his stationary bike a friend passed on after his quarantine finished a couple of days after we arrived. You can send a bag of washing twice a week. Qld Health came on day one to do Covid test and will return on day 10. Very happy with hotel.

Terrific to read you are out of hospital. Over the hump and heading towards freedom, that very first breath of air outside the hotel is euphoric. Interesting you are Covid tested twice, there was no discussion or hint of testing during our stay, it makes complete sense to mandatorily test.

 

[debgow]

Terrific to read you are out of hospital. Over the hump and heading towards freedom, that very first breath of air outside the hotel is euphoric. Interesting you are Covid tested twice, there was no discussion or hint of testing during our stay, it makes complete sense to mandatorily test.

. Spoke with a friend in Brisbane quarantine who got in the same day as me, and she wasn’t tested either and has had only 1 phone call from Qld health to my 2 calls plus 1 from Red Cross.

 

[Seat0B]

. Spoke with a friend in Brisbane quarantine who got in the same day as me, and she wasn’t tested either and has had only 1 phone call from Qld health to my 2 calls plus 1 from Red Cross.

So, going for a QF style of quarantine then - consistently inconsistent?

 

[Indiana]

I read somewhere those who purchased plane tickets prior to July 13, 2020, still won’t have to pay for the 14 day isolation accommodation....can anyone confirm this??

 

[debgow]

I read somewhere those who purchased plane tickets prior to July 13, 2020, still won’t have to pay for the 14 day isolation accommodation....can anyone confirm this??

From Qld Gov website

• “people who had a confirmed international arrival date into Queensland before midnight on 17 June 2020, even if they arrive after 1 July 2020”.
  Not sure if same for all states though.

 

[jokes128]

I think you are right Indiana, depending on which state you are talking about(not for QLD).

 

[jokes128]

I would also like to ask knowledgable members: what if I hold a ticket issued prior to the cutoff date to NSW(12/7/2020) but then the airline cancelled my economy seat(as with recent reports). In this case I have to rebook the tickets to a later date(presumably with same PNR/ticket number). Does it still qualify for exemption for quarantine charges in this case?

And what if I actively change the date of arrival of this ticket(rather than cancelled by airline), ie. not a new booking so presumably same PNR/ticket number again, do airlines change the "issue date" on such an date change of the ticket and make the exemption to quarantine charges invalid?

 

[p--and--t]

If anyone is interested there is a guy returning from overseas who started 14 day hotel quarantine yesterday in Adelaide who is blogging & videoing his experience on instagram see his “story”

@nickupfront

 

[Ryan747]

Hey Guys, I arrived in Sydney yesterday from LAX. We were held on plane as another flight had landed before us and they required us to social distance. After deplaning pax were escorted to a NSW health screening which has a quick interview to ask if you felt sick and a temperature check. Everyone was required to stay 1.5 m apart in a line. After that immigration and then baggage collection. Once you cleared customs people were moved into a roped off area of the baggage terminal and asked to wait until NSW police were ready to receive you. I heard several people where they were being taken and every time the same reply.. "we dont know, you will be told on the bus". The whole process from getting off the plane to getting on the bus was about 2 hours. Once the buses were ready police escorted people out and were asked if they were a single or family. Families and singles/couples were put on seperate busses. Just as the bus took off we were told we were going to the Intercontinental in the CBD. Apparently families went to Adina. The bus pulled up out the front of the hotel and people were asked to leave the bus in groups of approx 4. Check in was done by NSW police who asked a bunch of questions. A random room was assigned and you were given a few documents which explained the process. Once checked in you are escorted to your room. I was told we are not allowed to leave for any reason (even exercise). On the first day a person called for a basic health screening and offered to have any urgent prescriptions filled and delivered to my room. 3 x meals a day are provided and are delivered at random times (approx 730/12/6). Sometimes someone knocks so you know and other times nothing. I got a standard hotel room which had a king bed, desk and small lounge chair. No balcony or opening window. You get a call each day from a nurse asking if you have any symptoms and thats about it. The food was actually very very good. Breakfast is basic (cereal, apple juice, yoghurt). Lunch has been wraps/sandwiches with a side (salad/rice/crisps etc). Dinner is a hot meal and was very tasty. First night was a cottage pie with a side salad and rice pudding. Second night was a beef chilli with rice, bean salad, corn chips and chocolate. They asked for a credit card on arrival in case you choose to use the mini bar. There is no room service but you can have stuff delivered to your room once a day. I have had some wine delivered via BWS and Japanese via uber eats. Both delivered to my room promptly. If you arrive before lunchtime you can leave anytime between 4am on the 14th day of your quarantine. Ie arrive at 6am Friday, leave 2 weeks later from 4am Friday. If you arrive after lunchtime you have to stay until 4pm pm the day of departure. Wifi is free and you will be sent a bill 30 days after checking out. Everyone has so far been very polite, respectful and understanding that this isnt nice for anyone. A covid test is done on day 2 and 10. There is no room cleaning and if you need to wash clothes you are told to do this in your bathroom sink. Sheets are left at door at day 7. Rubbish can be left outside room. There is security situated on every floor and the foyers etc are covered by several police and military. No smoking allowed in rooms but they will provide nicotine patches. Hopefully this helps

 

[Mattg]

Thanks for the detailed report @Ryan747. Hopefully these two weeks are not too difficult and will fly by for you (as much as that is possible when stuck in a hotel room).

 

[sudoer]

Two of my friends arrived at SYD on NH879 this morning (little bit of back story here) and had a very quick transfer process.

Disembarkation, immigration, baggage and customs were all done in just an hour. Another 30 minutes after that, their transfer bus pulled into the Parkroyal Darling Harbour. They were in their hotel room a little over 2 hours after the plane touched down. I was quite surprised at how efficient this was given the 6+ hour anecdotal ordeals.

The room looks to be nothing special, average sized, has a decent work desk, good size TV and a fairly large bathroom, although no bath.



Here are some examples of the catering (no idea why they were given a Jan menu on 1 Feb)



and here are some of the rules/arrangements. Their understanding is they can receive one food delivery per day (UberEats, Woolworths Online, etc) plus care packages - but not 100% sure on that last bit.



Here are the entertainment options. $25 for 14 days of unlimited movies seems like decent value, although Chromecast is also available for Netflix and the like.

 

[Indiana]

I would also like to ask knowledgable members: what if I hold a ticket issued prior to the cutoff date to NSW(12/7/2020) but then the airline cancelled my economy seat(as with recent reports). In this case I have to rebook the tickets to a later date(presumably with same PNR/ticket number). Does it still qualify for exemption for quarantine charges in this case?

And what if I actively change the date of arrival of this ticket(rather than cancelled by airline), ie. not a new booking so presumably same PNR/ticket number again, do airlines change the "issue date" on such an date change of the ticket and make the exemption to quarantine charges invalid?

Hey there, if you have proof you actually brought the ticket originally before the 12th of July, then you do not have to pay for quarantine in "Sydney"....not sure about anywhere else.

 

[sudoer]

A mate of mine booked a flight from Londom to Sydney prior to July, which was late cancelled by the airline. He booked other flights on a brand new PNR. He applied for the quarantine fee waiver along with the cancellation notice from the airline, and NSW Revenue approved it without any questions.

 

[ethernet]

Mate from Vn - fee waived too. JQ1 JQ2 Air Asia etc. Only he purchased four other PNR's to actually get home on .vn air.
The food pictures are disgusting - and a kmart microwave , new is $48, and a hot toastie machine $19. I know what I would smuggle in.